University of Portland

Assistant Professor, Mechanical & Biomedical Engineering

Statics, Strength of Materials, CAD, Finite Element Analysis, Automated Manufacturing, Senior Design, Biomechanics, and Biomedical Engineering Society & Capstone

Oregon Health and Science University

Adjunct Faculty, OHSU Department of Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation

Dr. Deborah Munro serves in an adjunct faculty capacity on a voluntary basis for the Department of Orthopaedics. The main focus of her service is educational research—helping residents gain experience in biomechanical research. She provides lectures, demonstrates test procedures, conducts research project testing, and brings her own funding to the department to utilize biomechanical test equipment.

University of Canterbury

Senior Lecturer Above the Bar

Developing a bioengineering track within the mechanical engineering department.

Munro Medical, LLC

Biomedical Engineering Research Consultant

Munro Medical provides biomedical research and consulting services. More information is available at https://munromedical.com.

President and founder of Munro Medical, Deborah Munro worked in the orthopedic medical device and biomechanics field for over a dozen years, designing implants and instruments and writing clinical literature reviews, meta-analyses, and patentability reviews. She then worked as an engineering consultant for a few years before transitioning to teaching mechanical and biomedical engineering at the University of Portland, where she developed courses in CNC automated manufacturing and biomechanics.

After eight years at the University of Portland, Dr. Munro decided to pursue consulting full time and has set up her offices in beautiful Portland, Oregon. Whatever your medical device design, analysis, or regulatory needs, she is ready to assist you.

Nerac

Research Analyst

Clinical literature reviews, research and analysis on patents, meta-analyses of medical devices, 510K preparations, medical regulatory

IMECE2016-65696 Correlation of Strain on Instrumentation to Simulated Posterolateral Lumbar Fusion in a Sheep Model

ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition 2016

Determining the stability and integrity of posterolateral lumbar spinal fusions continues to be one of the leading challenges facing surgeons today. Radiographs have long been the gold standard for evaluating spinal fusion, but they often give delayed or inaccurate results. It is the goal of this research to develop a new method for determining the strength and stability of a posterolateral lumbar spinal fusion using a sensor based on two strain gauges attached to a spinal rod. It was hypothesized that the spinal implants, in particular the plates or rods, would respond to this change in strain as the stiffness of the fusion increased.

IMECE2016-65696 Correlation of Strain on Instrumentation to Simulated Posterolateral Lumbar Fusion in a Sheep Model

ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition 2016

Determining the stability and integrity of posterolateral lumbar spinal fusions continues to be one of the leading challenges facing surgeons today. Radiographs have long been the gold standard for evaluating spinal fusion, but they often give delayed or inaccurate results. It is the goal of this research to develop a new method for determining the strength and stability of a posterolateral lumbar spinal fusion using a sensor based on two strain gauges attached to a spinal rod. It was hypothesized that the spinal implants, in particular the plates or rods, would respond to this change in strain as the stiffness of the fusion increased.

Patents in fiber-optic sensing

SPIE Newsroom. International Society for Optics and Photonics.

IMECE2016-65696 Correlation of Strain on Instrumentation to Simulated Posterolateral Lumbar Fusion in a Sheep Model

ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition 2016

Determining the stability and integrity of posterolateral lumbar spinal fusions continues to be one of the leading challenges facing surgeons today. Radiographs have long been the gold standard for evaluating spinal fusion, but they often give delayed or inaccurate results. It is the goal of this research to develop a new method for determining the strength and stability of a posterolateral lumbar spinal fusion using a sensor based on two strain gauges attached to a spinal rod. It was hypothesized that the spinal implants, in particular the plates or rods, would respond to this change in strain as the stiffness of the fusion increased.

Patents in fiber-optic sensing

SPIE Newsroom. International Society for Optics and Photonics.

Examining Methods to Determine Sample Sizes

BONEZONE

For years, device companies used the Central Limit Theorem (CLT) and its rule of thumb of 30 parts tested. Increasing tolerances and regulatory oversight are two reasons that CLT is no longer relative. For example, FDA now seeks a more analytical approach—justification—for choosing sample size. However, calculating an appropriate minimum sample size is one of the most difficult things to do and is an ongoing challenge for many of us. To complicate things further, a large number of journal articles are devoted to this subject, and their advice is often case-specific or discusses a new and unique way to determine a sample size, leaving us more confused than ever. I am not a statistician, and after reading a dozen or more articles, I’ve come to the conclusion that “everything depends on everything” when it comes to statistics. There are no simple answers.

IMECE2016-65696 Correlation of Strain on Instrumentation to Simulated Posterolateral Lumbar Fusion in a Sheep Model

ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition 2016

Determining the stability and integrity of posterolateral lumbar spinal fusions continues to be one of the leading challenges facing surgeons today. Radiographs have long been the gold standard for evaluating spinal fusion, but they often give delayed or inaccurate results. It is the goal of this research to develop a new method for determining the strength and stability of a posterolateral lumbar spinal fusion using a sensor based on two strain gauges attached to a spinal rod. It was hypothesized that the spinal implants, in particular the plates or rods, would respond to this change in strain as the stiffness of the fusion increased.

Patents in fiber-optic sensing

SPIE Newsroom. International Society for Optics and Photonics.

Examining Methods to Determine Sample Sizes

BONEZONE

For years, device companies used the Central Limit Theorem (CLT) and its rule of thumb of 30 parts tested. Increasing tolerances and regulatory oversight are two reasons that CLT is no longer relative. For example, FDA now seeks a more analytical approach—justification—for choosing sample size. However, calculating an appropriate minimum sample size is one of the most difficult things to do and is an ongoing challenge for many of us. To complicate things further, a large number of journal articles are devoted to this subject, and their advice is often case-specific or discusses a new and unique way to determine a sample size, leaving us more confused than ever. I am not a statistician, and after reading a dozen or more articles, I’ve come to the conclusion that “everything depends on everything” when it comes to statistics. There are no simple answers.

Entrepreneurial Engineering: Start with the Problem

BONEZONE

We’ve all been there—the boss, the sales rep or the customer rushes in with a problem that needs to be solved—STAT. You’re told what to do and asked how soon you can get it done. The temptation to just implement the idea into a fully-fledged solution is enormous. And why not? It gets the job done, makes that person happy and lets you move on to solve other problems. I’ve succumbed to this way of thinking many times. The results are always the same—an adequate design that leaves me and everyone else feeling flat. I know that I could have done better, because in the past, I’ve come up with amazingly simple yet incredible solutions that have given me immense satisfaction, knowing that I’m improving people’s lives and truly helping my company be the best that it can be. What did that take? It took an entrepreneurial engineer mind frame.

IMECE2016-65696 Correlation of Strain on Instrumentation to Simulated Posterolateral Lumbar Fusion in a Sheep Model

ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition 2016

Determining the stability and integrity of posterolateral lumbar spinal fusions continues to be one of the leading challenges facing surgeons today. Radiographs have long been the gold standard for evaluating spinal fusion, but they often give delayed or inaccurate results. It is the goal of this research to develop a new method for determining the strength and stability of a posterolateral lumbar spinal fusion using a sensor based on two strain gauges attached to a spinal rod. It was hypothesized that the spinal implants, in particular the plates or rods, would respond to this change in strain as the stiffness of the fusion increased.

Patents in fiber-optic sensing

SPIE Newsroom. International Society for Optics and Photonics.

Examining Methods to Determine Sample Sizes

BONEZONE

For years, device companies used the Central Limit Theorem (CLT) and its rule of thumb of 30 parts tested. Increasing tolerances and regulatory oversight are two reasons that CLT is no longer relative. For example, FDA now seeks a more analytical approach—justification—for choosing sample size. However, calculating an appropriate minimum sample size is one of the most difficult things to do and is an ongoing challenge for many of us. To complicate things further, a large number of journal articles are devoted to this subject, and their advice is often case-specific or discusses a new and unique way to determine a sample size, leaving us more confused than ever. I am not a statistician, and after reading a dozen or more articles, I’ve come to the conclusion that “everything depends on everything” when it comes to statistics. There are no simple answers.

Entrepreneurial Engineering: Start with the Problem

BONEZONE

We’ve all been there—the boss, the sales rep or the customer rushes in with a problem that needs to be solved—STAT. You’re told what to do and asked how soon you can get it done. The temptation to just implement the idea into a fully-fledged solution is enormous. And why not? It gets the job done, makes that person happy and lets you move on to solve other problems. I’ve succumbed to this way of thinking many times. The results are always the same—an adequate design that leaves me and everyone else feeling flat. I know that I could have done better, because in the past, I’ve come up with amazingly simple yet incredible solutions that have given me immense satisfaction, knowing that I’m improving people’s lives and truly helping my company be the best that it can be. What did that take? It took an entrepreneurial engineer mind frame.

Development of an automated manufacturing course with lab for undergraduates

IEEE Frontiers in Engineering Education

Many engineering programs at universities across the country have dropped machine shop and manufacturing courses from their curriculum due to budget constraints, accreditation requirements, and concerns about student safety. At the University of Portland, we have resurrected and enhanced a hands-on advanced CAD and automated manufacturing course that introduces students to advanced solid modeling techniques in CAD, such as sweeps, lofts, and surfacing methods. In addition, students learn manual machining and vacuum forming in our machine shop, along with learning how to create tool paths for CNC machining their designed CAD parts out of wax on various three axis end mills, a 3D printer, and a 3D laser scanner. The end mills were all refurbished and/or repaired over a period of four years to get this course up and running. A commercial software package, MasterCAM, was used in conjunction with SolidWorks as the platform from which to learn about automated manufacturing. In addition, a MakerBot 3D printer was built from a kit to give students experience with future manufacturing techniques. The 3D laser scanner was student designed and built and creates CAD surface models of parts, useful for learning about reverse engineering. The machinable wax used for machining is recycled, melted down, and formed into blocks again for reuse. This saves considerable money. Our goal has been to enhance design quality in our curriculum through experiential learning. Prior to taking this course, all mechanical engineering students are required to take a solid modeling CAD course to learn the basics. However, our experience has been that students do not conceptually understand the importance of designing for manufacture.

IMECE2016-65696 Correlation of Strain on Instrumentation to Simulated Posterolateral Lumbar Fusion in a Sheep Model

ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition 2016

Determining the stability and integrity of posterolateral lumbar spinal fusions continues to be one of the leading challenges facing surgeons today. Radiographs have long been the gold standard for evaluating spinal fusion, but they often give delayed or inaccurate results. It is the goal of this research to develop a new method for determining the strength and stability of a posterolateral lumbar spinal fusion using a sensor based on two strain gauges attached to a spinal rod. It was hypothesized that the spinal implants, in particular the plates or rods, would respond to this change in strain as the stiffness of the fusion increased.

Patents in fiber-optic sensing

SPIE Newsroom. International Society for Optics and Photonics.

Examining Methods to Determine Sample Sizes

BONEZONE

For years, device companies used the Central Limit Theorem (CLT) and its rule of thumb of 30 parts tested. Increasing tolerances and regulatory oversight are two reasons that CLT is no longer relative. For example, FDA now seeks a more analytical approach—justification—for choosing sample size. However, calculating an appropriate minimum sample size is one of the most difficult things to do and is an ongoing challenge for many of us. To complicate things further, a large number of journal articles are devoted to this subject, and their advice is often case-specific or discusses a new and unique way to determine a sample size, leaving us more confused than ever. I am not a statistician, and after reading a dozen or more articles, I’ve come to the conclusion that “everything depends on everything” when it comes to statistics. There are no simple answers.

Entrepreneurial Engineering: Start with the Problem

BONEZONE

We’ve all been there—the boss, the sales rep or the customer rushes in with a problem that needs to be solved—STAT. You’re told what to do and asked how soon you can get it done. The temptation to just implement the idea into a fully-fledged solution is enormous. And why not? It gets the job done, makes that person happy and lets you move on to solve other problems. I’ve succumbed to this way of thinking many times. The results are always the same—an adequate design that leaves me and everyone else feeling flat. I know that I could have done better, because in the past, I’ve come up with amazingly simple yet incredible solutions that have given me immense satisfaction, knowing that I’m improving people’s lives and truly helping my company be the best that it can be. What did that take? It took an entrepreneurial engineer mind frame.

Development of an automated manufacturing course with lab for undergraduates

IEEE Frontiers in Engineering Education

Many engineering programs at universities across the country have dropped machine shop and manufacturing courses from their curriculum due to budget constraints, accreditation requirements, and concerns about student safety. At the University of Portland, we have resurrected and enhanced a hands-on advanced CAD and automated manufacturing course that introduces students to advanced solid modeling techniques in CAD, such as sweeps, lofts, and surfacing methods. In addition, students learn manual machining and vacuum forming in our machine shop, along with learning how to create tool paths for CNC machining their designed CAD parts out of wax on various three axis end mills, a 3D printer, and a 3D laser scanner. The end mills were all refurbished and/or repaired over a period of four years to get this course up and running. A commercial software package, MasterCAM, was used in conjunction with SolidWorks as the platform from which to learn about automated manufacturing. In addition, a MakerBot 3D printer was built from a kit to give students experience with future manufacturing techniques. The 3D laser scanner was student designed and built and creates CAD surface models of parts, useful for learning about reverse engineering. The machinable wax used for machining is recycled, melted down, and formed into blocks again for reuse. This saves considerable money. Our goal has been to enhance design quality in our curriculum through experiential learning. Prior to taking this course, all mechanical engineering students are required to take a solid modeling CAD course to learn the basics. However, our experience has been that students do not conceptually understand the importance of designing for manufacture.

Learn to Incorporate Sensors Into Your Next Design Idea

BONEZONE

The future of orthopaedic medical devices is small—microscopically small. Microelectromechanical Systems, referred to as MEMS devices or sensors, are already used in a host of medical devices, doing tasks that were previously only conceived of in science fiction. Sensors the size of a flea can now measure strain, temperature or resistivity. They can measure acceleration, frequency and electrical impulses. MEMS can be used to make microscopic gears to tune hearing aids, capacitive rings embedded in contact lenses to measure glucose levels and microfluidic pumps to deliver insulin to patients. Little of this technology has infiltrated the orthopaedic device market, which tends to be conservative and use established, trusted techniques. Recently, however, some companies have successfully incorporated sensors in devices like total knee arthroplasty balancing instruments that measure the applied load to optimize the selection of the polyethylene tibial component’s thickness.

IMECE2016-65696 Correlation of Strain on Instrumentation to Simulated Posterolateral Lumbar Fusion in a Sheep Model

ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition 2016

Determining the stability and integrity of posterolateral lumbar spinal fusions continues to be one of the leading challenges facing surgeons today. Radiographs have long been the gold standard for evaluating spinal fusion, but they often give delayed or inaccurate results. It is the goal of this research to develop a new method for determining the strength and stability of a posterolateral lumbar spinal fusion using a sensor based on two strain gauges attached to a spinal rod. It was hypothesized that the spinal implants, in particular the plates or rods, would respond to this change in strain as the stiffness of the fusion increased.

Patents in fiber-optic sensing

SPIE Newsroom. International Society for Optics and Photonics.

Examining Methods to Determine Sample Sizes

BONEZONE

For years, device companies used the Central Limit Theorem (CLT) and its rule of thumb of 30 parts tested. Increasing tolerances and regulatory oversight are two reasons that CLT is no longer relative. For example, FDA now seeks a more analytical approach—justification—for choosing sample size. However, calculating an appropriate minimum sample size is one of the most difficult things to do and is an ongoing challenge for many of us. To complicate things further, a large number of journal articles are devoted to this subject, and their advice is often case-specific or discusses a new and unique way to determine a sample size, leaving us more confused than ever. I am not a statistician, and after reading a dozen or more articles, I’ve come to the conclusion that “everything depends on everything” when it comes to statistics. There are no simple answers.

Entrepreneurial Engineering: Start with the Problem

BONEZONE

We’ve all been there—the boss, the sales rep or the customer rushes in with a problem that needs to be solved—STAT. You’re told what to do and asked how soon you can get it done. The temptation to just implement the idea into a fully-fledged solution is enormous. And why not? It gets the job done, makes that person happy and lets you move on to solve other problems. I’ve succumbed to this way of thinking many times. The results are always the same—an adequate design that leaves me and everyone else feeling flat. I know that I could have done better, because in the past, I’ve come up with amazingly simple yet incredible solutions that have given me immense satisfaction, knowing that I’m improving people’s lives and truly helping my company be the best that it can be. What did that take? It took an entrepreneurial engineer mind frame.

Development of an automated manufacturing course with lab for undergraduates

IEEE Frontiers in Engineering Education

Many engineering programs at universities across the country have dropped machine shop and manufacturing courses from their curriculum due to budget constraints, accreditation requirements, and concerns about student safety. At the University of Portland, we have resurrected and enhanced a hands-on advanced CAD and automated manufacturing course that introduces students to advanced solid modeling techniques in CAD, such as sweeps, lofts, and surfacing methods. In addition, students learn manual machining and vacuum forming in our machine shop, along with learning how to create tool paths for CNC machining their designed CAD parts out of wax on various three axis end mills, a 3D printer, and a 3D laser scanner. The end mills were all refurbished and/or repaired over a period of four years to get this course up and running. A commercial software package, MasterCAM, was used in conjunction with SolidWorks as the platform from which to learn about automated manufacturing. In addition, a MakerBot 3D printer was built from a kit to give students experience with future manufacturing techniques. The 3D laser scanner was student designed and built and creates CAD surface models of parts, useful for learning about reverse engineering. The machinable wax used for machining is recycled, melted down, and formed into blocks again for reuse. This saves considerable money. Our goal has been to enhance design quality in our curriculum through experiential learning. Prior to taking this course, all mechanical engineering students are required to take a solid modeling CAD course to learn the basics. However, our experience has been that students do not conceptually understand the importance of designing for manufacture.

Learn to Incorporate Sensors Into Your Next Design Idea

BONEZONE

The future of orthopaedic medical devices is small—microscopically small. Microelectromechanical Systems, referred to as MEMS devices or sensors, are already used in a host of medical devices, doing tasks that were previously only conceived of in science fiction. Sensors the size of a flea can now measure strain, temperature or resistivity. They can measure acceleration, frequency and electrical impulses. MEMS can be used to make microscopic gears to tune hearing aids, capacitive rings embedded in contact lenses to measure glucose levels and microfluidic pumps to deliver insulin to patients. Little of this technology has infiltrated the orthopaedic device market, which tends to be conservative and use established, trusted techniques. Recently, however, some companies have successfully incorporated sensors in devices like total knee arthroplasty balancing instruments that measure the applied load to optimize the selection of the polyethylene tibial component’s thickness.

Hands-on biomechanics lab for undergraduate universities

IEEE Frontiers in Engineering Education

This paper discusses the development of a biomechanics lab course suitable for use at undergraduate engineering institutions who wish to expand their elective offerings or move towards developing a bioengineering degree program. The labs are designed to be low cost and feasible in a teaching environment with groups of students rotating through stationary lab setups. The biomechanics course at the University of Portland has nine labs. The six stationary labs are 1) Gait Force Profile Analysis, 2) Basketball Freethrow Arm Angle Analysis, 3) Biomechanical Arm Muscle Analysis, 4) Muscle Fatigue Analysis, 5) Occupational Biomechanics Glove Fatigue Analysis, and 6) Breathing, Heart Rate, and Knee Motion Analysis. The three labs performed as a class are 7) Sprint Acceleration and Terminal Velocity Analysis, 8) Auto Collision Analysis, and 9) Orthopaedic Implant Mechanical Testing. The remainder of this paper is a detailed description of each lab, its learning objectives, and how it was implemented. Other aspects, such as final projects, research reports, and student opinions of the course will also be discussed.

IMECE2016-65696 Correlation of Strain on Instrumentation to Simulated Posterolateral Lumbar Fusion in a Sheep Model

ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition 2016

Determining the stability and integrity of posterolateral lumbar spinal fusions continues to be one of the leading challenges facing surgeons today. Radiographs have long been the gold standard for evaluating spinal fusion, but they often give delayed or inaccurate results. It is the goal of this research to develop a new method for determining the strength and stability of a posterolateral lumbar spinal fusion using a sensor based on two strain gauges attached to a spinal rod. It was hypothesized that the spinal implants, in particular the plates or rods, would respond to this change in strain as the stiffness of the fusion increased.

Patents in fiber-optic sensing

SPIE Newsroom. International Society for Optics and Photonics.

Examining Methods to Determine Sample Sizes

BONEZONE

For years, device companies used the Central Limit Theorem (CLT) and its rule of thumb of 30 parts tested. Increasing tolerances and regulatory oversight are two reasons that CLT is no longer relative. For example, FDA now seeks a more analytical approach—justification—for choosing sample size. However, calculating an appropriate minimum sample size is one of the most difficult things to do and is an ongoing challenge for many of us. To complicate things further, a large number of journal articles are devoted to this subject, and their advice is often case-specific or discusses a new and unique way to determine a sample size, leaving us more confused than ever. I am not a statistician, and after reading a dozen or more articles, I’ve come to the conclusion that “everything depends on everything” when it comes to statistics. There are no simple answers.

Entrepreneurial Engineering: Start with the Problem

BONEZONE

We’ve all been there—the boss, the sales rep or the customer rushes in with a problem that needs to be solved—STAT. You’re told what to do and asked how soon you can get it done. The temptation to just implement the idea into a fully-fledged solution is enormous. And why not? It gets the job done, makes that person happy and lets you move on to solve other problems. I’ve succumbed to this way of thinking many times. The results are always the same—an adequate design that leaves me and everyone else feeling flat. I know that I could have done better, because in the past, I’ve come up with amazingly simple yet incredible solutions that have given me immense satisfaction, knowing that I’m improving people’s lives and truly helping my company be the best that it can be. What did that take? It took an entrepreneurial engineer mind frame.

Development of an automated manufacturing course with lab for undergraduates

IEEE Frontiers in Engineering Education

Many engineering programs at universities across the country have dropped machine shop and manufacturing courses from their curriculum due to budget constraints, accreditation requirements, and concerns about student safety. At the University of Portland, we have resurrected and enhanced a hands-on advanced CAD and automated manufacturing course that introduces students to advanced solid modeling techniques in CAD, such as sweeps, lofts, and surfacing methods. In addition, students learn manual machining and vacuum forming in our machine shop, along with learning how to create tool paths for CNC machining their designed CAD parts out of wax on various three axis end mills, a 3D printer, and a 3D laser scanner. The end mills were all refurbished and/or repaired over a period of four years to get this course up and running. A commercial software package, MasterCAM, was used in conjunction with SolidWorks as the platform from which to learn about automated manufacturing. In addition, a MakerBot 3D printer was built from a kit to give students experience with future manufacturing techniques. The 3D laser scanner was student designed and built and creates CAD surface models of parts, useful for learning about reverse engineering. The machinable wax used for machining is recycled, melted down, and formed into blocks again for reuse. This saves considerable money. Our goal has been to enhance design quality in our curriculum through experiential learning. Prior to taking this course, all mechanical engineering students are required to take a solid modeling CAD course to learn the basics. However, our experience has been that students do not conceptually understand the importance of designing for manufacture.

Learn to Incorporate Sensors Into Your Next Design Idea

BONEZONE

The future of orthopaedic medical devices is small—microscopically small. Microelectromechanical Systems, referred to as MEMS devices or sensors, are already used in a host of medical devices, doing tasks that were previously only conceived of in science fiction. Sensors the size of a flea can now measure strain, temperature or resistivity. They can measure acceleration, frequency and electrical impulses. MEMS can be used to make microscopic gears to tune hearing aids, capacitive rings embedded in contact lenses to measure glucose levels and microfluidic pumps to deliver insulin to patients. Little of this technology has infiltrated the orthopaedic device market, which tends to be conservative and use established, trusted techniques. Recently, however, some companies have successfully incorporated sensors in devices like total knee arthroplasty balancing instruments that measure the applied load to optimize the selection of the polyethylene tibial component’s thickness.

Hands-on biomechanics lab for undergraduate universities

IEEE Frontiers in Engineering Education

This paper discusses the development of a biomechanics lab course suitable for use at undergraduate engineering institutions who wish to expand their elective offerings or move towards developing a bioengineering degree program. The labs are designed to be low cost and feasible in a teaching environment with groups of students rotating through stationary lab setups. The biomechanics course at the University of Portland has nine labs. The six stationary labs are 1) Gait Force Profile Analysis, 2) Basketball Freethrow Arm Angle Analysis, 3) Biomechanical Arm Muscle Analysis, 4) Muscle Fatigue Analysis, 5) Occupational Biomechanics Glove Fatigue Analysis, and 6) Breathing, Heart Rate, and Knee Motion Analysis. The three labs performed as a class are 7) Sprint Acceleration and Terminal Velocity Analysis, 8) Auto Collision Analysis, and 9) Orthopaedic Implant Mechanical Testing. The remainder of this paper is a detailed description of each lab, its learning objectives, and how it was implemented. Other aspects, such as final projects, research reports, and student opinions of the course will also be discussed.

IMECE2016-65703 Development of a Microfabricated Sensor System to Measure Lumbar Spinal Fusion

ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition 2016

Lumbar spinal fusion surgery continues to experience major growth in the United States and worldwide. The surgery is performed by implanting spinal rods and screws within an incision on the lumbar region of the spine. This implanted hardware provides the initial mechanical stiffness until the morselized bone and bone growth factors generate new bone and can provide long term fixation. After surgery, development of the fusion is evaluated with radiographs, but determination of this fusion takes many months as the bone must first mineralize. The early stages are not visible on radiographs; however, this non-mineralized bone does provide substantial mechanical stiffness that could be measured with a sensor. As the spine moves and flexes, it creates a bending moment in the spinal rod, which could be measured as a strain. When initially implanted, this rod would experience its peak strain, but this would decrease as the bone shared some of the load. By periodically sampling the strain with a sensor, a curve could be generated that showed the overall progress of the fusion. To maximize the output signal, an interdigitated capacitor design was implemented as the most effective way to maximize the capacitance measurement. A design using 51 free-standing, interdigitated fingers resulted in 50 parallel plate capacitors. The interdigitated capacitor was connected to a Low-Z Amplifier circuit and attached to a spinal rod. The rod was then flexed to simulate spinal bending, and the capacitance changed as expected under physiological loads.

IMECE2016-65696 Correlation of Strain on Instrumentation to Simulated Posterolateral Lumbar Fusion in a Sheep Model

ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition 2016

Determining the stability and integrity of posterolateral lumbar spinal fusions continues to be one of the leading challenges facing surgeons today. Radiographs have long been the gold standard for evaluating spinal fusion, but they often give delayed or inaccurate results. It is the goal of this research to develop a new method for determining the strength and stability of a posterolateral lumbar spinal fusion using a sensor based on two strain gauges attached to a spinal rod. It was hypothesized that the spinal implants, in particular the plates or rods, would respond to this change in strain as the stiffness of the fusion increased.

Patents in fiber-optic sensing

SPIE Newsroom. International Society for Optics and Photonics.

Examining Methods to Determine Sample Sizes

BONEZONE

For years, device companies used the Central Limit Theorem (CLT) and its rule of thumb of 30 parts tested. Increasing tolerances and regulatory oversight are two reasons that CLT is no longer relative. For example, FDA now seeks a more analytical approach—justification—for choosing sample size. However, calculating an appropriate minimum sample size is one of the most difficult things to do and is an ongoing challenge for many of us. To complicate things further, a large number of journal articles are devoted to this subject, and their advice is often case-specific or discusses a new and unique way to determine a sample size, leaving us more confused than ever. I am not a statistician, and after reading a dozen or more articles, I’ve come to the conclusion that “everything depends on everything” when it comes to statistics. There are no simple answers.

Entrepreneurial Engineering: Start with the Problem

BONEZONE

We’ve all been there—the boss, the sales rep or the customer rushes in with a problem that needs to be solved—STAT. You’re told what to do and asked how soon you can get it done. The temptation to just implement the idea into a fully-fledged solution is enormous. And why not? It gets the job done, makes that person happy and lets you move on to solve other problems. I’ve succumbed to this way of thinking many times. The results are always the same—an adequate design that leaves me and everyone else feeling flat. I know that I could have done better, because in the past, I’ve come up with amazingly simple yet incredible solutions that have given me immense satisfaction, knowing that I’m improving people’s lives and truly helping my company be the best that it can be. What did that take? It took an entrepreneurial engineer mind frame.

Development of an automated manufacturing course with lab for undergraduates

IEEE Frontiers in Engineering Education

Many engineering programs at universities across the country have dropped machine shop and manufacturing courses from their curriculum due to budget constraints, accreditation requirements, and concerns about student safety. At the University of Portland, we have resurrected and enhanced a hands-on advanced CAD and automated manufacturing course that introduces students to advanced solid modeling techniques in CAD, such as sweeps, lofts, and surfacing methods. In addition, students learn manual machining and vacuum forming in our machine shop, along with learning how to create tool paths for CNC machining their designed CAD parts out of wax on various three axis end mills, a 3D printer, and a 3D laser scanner. The end mills were all refurbished and/or repaired over a period of four years to get this course up and running. A commercial software package, MasterCAM, was used in conjunction with SolidWorks as the platform from which to learn about automated manufacturing. In addition, a MakerBot 3D printer was built from a kit to give students experience with future manufacturing techniques. The 3D laser scanner was student designed and built and creates CAD surface models of parts, useful for learning about reverse engineering. The machinable wax used for machining is recycled, melted down, and formed into blocks again for reuse. This saves considerable money. Our goal has been to enhance design quality in our curriculum through experiential learning. Prior to taking this course, all mechanical engineering students are required to take a solid modeling CAD course to learn the basics. However, our experience has been that students do not conceptually understand the importance of designing for manufacture.

Learn to Incorporate Sensors Into Your Next Design Idea

BONEZONE

The future of orthopaedic medical devices is small—microscopically small. Microelectromechanical Systems, referred to as MEMS devices or sensors, are already used in a host of medical devices, doing tasks that were previously only conceived of in science fiction. Sensors the size of a flea can now measure strain, temperature or resistivity. They can measure acceleration, frequency and electrical impulses. MEMS can be used to make microscopic gears to tune hearing aids, capacitive rings embedded in contact lenses to measure glucose levels and microfluidic pumps to deliver insulin to patients. Little of this technology has infiltrated the orthopaedic device market, which tends to be conservative and use established, trusted techniques. Recently, however, some companies have successfully incorporated sensors in devices like total knee arthroplasty balancing instruments that measure the applied load to optimize the selection of the polyethylene tibial component’s thickness.

Hands-on biomechanics lab for undergraduate universities

IEEE Frontiers in Engineering Education

This paper discusses the development of a biomechanics lab course suitable for use at undergraduate engineering institutions who wish to expand their elective offerings or move towards developing a bioengineering degree program. The labs are designed to be low cost and feasible in a teaching environment with groups of students rotating through stationary lab setups. The biomechanics course at the University of Portland has nine labs. The six stationary labs are 1) Gait Force Profile Analysis, 2) Basketball Freethrow Arm Angle Analysis, 3) Biomechanical Arm Muscle Analysis, 4) Muscle Fatigue Analysis, 5) Occupational Biomechanics Glove Fatigue Analysis, and 6) Breathing, Heart Rate, and Knee Motion Analysis. The three labs performed as a class are 7) Sprint Acceleration and Terminal Velocity Analysis, 8) Auto Collision Analysis, and 9) Orthopaedic Implant Mechanical Testing. The remainder of this paper is a detailed description of each lab, its learning objectives, and how it was implemented. Other aspects, such as final projects, research reports, and student opinions of the course will also be discussed.

IMECE2016-65703 Development of a Microfabricated Sensor System to Measure Lumbar Spinal Fusion

ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition 2016

Lumbar spinal fusion surgery continues to experience major growth in the United States and worldwide. The surgery is performed by implanting spinal rods and screws within an incision on the lumbar region of the spine. This implanted hardware provides the initial mechanical stiffness until the morselized bone and bone growth factors generate new bone and can provide long term fixation. After surgery, development of the fusion is evaluated with radiographs, but determination of this fusion takes many months as the bone must first mineralize. The early stages are not visible on radiographs; however, this non-mineralized bone does provide substantial mechanical stiffness that could be measured with a sensor. As the spine moves and flexes, it creates a bending moment in the spinal rod, which could be measured as a strain. When initially implanted, this rod would experience its peak strain, but this would decrease as the bone shared some of the load. By periodically sampling the strain with a sensor, a curve could be generated that showed the overall progress of the fusion. To maximize the output signal, an interdigitated capacitor design was implemented as the most effective way to maximize the capacitance measurement. A design using 51 free-standing, interdigitated fingers resulted in 50 parallel plate capacitors. The interdigitated capacitor was connected to a Low-Z Amplifier circuit and attached to a spinal rod. The rod was then flexed to simulate spinal bending, and the capacitance changed as expected under physiological loads.

My review of book featured on Inigo

Inigo Online

The Walls Are Closing In “Castle has crafted an eerily believable future for America that is reminiscent of George Orwell’s 1984. From the giant wall insulating America from the rest of the world, to the propaganda on mandatory, controlled television, to the cameras monitoring the protagonist’s every movement, I was chilled. This is a fascinating read about how 75 years from now, everything could be totally different in our world.” – Deborah Munro, Author of Apex

IMECE2016-65696 Correlation of Strain on Instrumentation to Simulated Posterolateral Lumbar Fusion in a Sheep Model

ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition 2016

Determining the stability and integrity of posterolateral lumbar spinal fusions continues to be one of the leading challenges facing surgeons today. Radiographs have long been the gold standard for evaluating spinal fusion, but they often give delayed or inaccurate results. It is the goal of this research to develop a new method for determining the strength and stability of a posterolateral lumbar spinal fusion using a sensor based on two strain gauges attached to a spinal rod. It was hypothesized that the spinal implants, in particular the plates or rods, would respond to this change in strain as the stiffness of the fusion increased.

Patents in fiber-optic sensing

SPIE Newsroom. International Society for Optics and Photonics.

Examining Methods to Determine Sample Sizes

BONEZONE

For years, device companies used the Central Limit Theorem (CLT) and its rule of thumb of 30 parts tested. Increasing tolerances and regulatory oversight are two reasons that CLT is no longer relative. For example, FDA now seeks a more analytical approach—justification—for choosing sample size. However, calculating an appropriate minimum sample size is one of the most difficult things to do and is an ongoing challenge for many of us. To complicate things further, a large number of journal articles are devoted to this subject, and their advice is often case-specific or discusses a new and unique way to determine a sample size, leaving us more confused than ever. I am not a statistician, and after reading a dozen or more articles, I’ve come to the conclusion that “everything depends on everything” when it comes to statistics. There are no simple answers.

Entrepreneurial Engineering: Start with the Problem

BONEZONE

We’ve all been there—the boss, the sales rep or the customer rushes in with a problem that needs to be solved—STAT. You’re told what to do and asked how soon you can get it done. The temptation to just implement the idea into a fully-fledged solution is enormous. And why not? It gets the job done, makes that person happy and lets you move on to solve other problems. I’ve succumbed to this way of thinking many times. The results are always the same—an adequate design that leaves me and everyone else feeling flat. I know that I could have done better, because in the past, I’ve come up with amazingly simple yet incredible solutions that have given me immense satisfaction, knowing that I’m improving people’s lives and truly helping my company be the best that it can be. What did that take? It took an entrepreneurial engineer mind frame.

Development of an automated manufacturing course with lab for undergraduates

IEEE Frontiers in Engineering Education

Many engineering programs at universities across the country have dropped machine shop and manufacturing courses from their curriculum due to budget constraints, accreditation requirements, and concerns about student safety. At the University of Portland, we have resurrected and enhanced a hands-on advanced CAD and automated manufacturing course that introduces students to advanced solid modeling techniques in CAD, such as sweeps, lofts, and surfacing methods. In addition, students learn manual machining and vacuum forming in our machine shop, along with learning how to create tool paths for CNC machining their designed CAD parts out of wax on various three axis end mills, a 3D printer, and a 3D laser scanner. The end mills were all refurbished and/or repaired over a period of four years to get this course up and running. A commercial software package, MasterCAM, was used in conjunction with SolidWorks as the platform from which to learn about automated manufacturing. In addition, a MakerBot 3D printer was built from a kit to give students experience with future manufacturing techniques. The 3D laser scanner was student designed and built and creates CAD surface models of parts, useful for learning about reverse engineering. The machinable wax used for machining is recycled, melted down, and formed into blocks again for reuse. This saves considerable money. Our goal has been to enhance design quality in our curriculum through experiential learning. Prior to taking this course, all mechanical engineering students are required to take a solid modeling CAD course to learn the basics. However, our experience has been that students do not conceptually understand the importance of designing for manufacture.

Learn to Incorporate Sensors Into Your Next Design Idea

BONEZONE

The future of orthopaedic medical devices is small—microscopically small. Microelectromechanical Systems, referred to as MEMS devices or sensors, are already used in a host of medical devices, doing tasks that were previously only conceived of in science fiction. Sensors the size of a flea can now measure strain, temperature or resistivity. They can measure acceleration, frequency and electrical impulses. MEMS can be used to make microscopic gears to tune hearing aids, capacitive rings embedded in contact lenses to measure glucose levels and microfluidic pumps to deliver insulin to patients. Little of this technology has infiltrated the orthopaedic device market, which tends to be conservative and use established, trusted techniques. Recently, however, some companies have successfully incorporated sensors in devices like total knee arthroplasty balancing instruments that measure the applied load to optimize the selection of the polyethylene tibial component’s thickness.

Hands-on biomechanics lab for undergraduate universities

IEEE Frontiers in Engineering Education

This paper discusses the development of a biomechanics lab course suitable for use at undergraduate engineering institutions who wish to expand their elective offerings or move towards developing a bioengineering degree program. The labs are designed to be low cost and feasible in a teaching environment with groups of students rotating through stationary lab setups. The biomechanics course at the University of Portland has nine labs. The six stationary labs are 1) Gait Force Profile Analysis, 2) Basketball Freethrow Arm Angle Analysis, 3) Biomechanical Arm Muscle Analysis, 4) Muscle Fatigue Analysis, 5) Occupational Biomechanics Glove Fatigue Analysis, and 6) Breathing, Heart Rate, and Knee Motion Analysis. The three labs performed as a class are 7) Sprint Acceleration and Terminal Velocity Analysis, 8) Auto Collision Analysis, and 9) Orthopaedic Implant Mechanical Testing. The remainder of this paper is a detailed description of each lab, its learning objectives, and how it was implemented. Other aspects, such as final projects, research reports, and student opinions of the course will also be discussed.

IMECE2016-65703 Development of a Microfabricated Sensor System to Measure Lumbar Spinal Fusion

ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition 2016

Lumbar spinal fusion surgery continues to experience major growth in the United States and worldwide. The surgery is performed by implanting spinal rods and screws within an incision on the lumbar region of the spine. This implanted hardware provides the initial mechanical stiffness until the morselized bone and bone growth factors generate new bone and can provide long term fixation. After surgery, development of the fusion is evaluated with radiographs, but determination of this fusion takes many months as the bone must first mineralize. The early stages are not visible on radiographs; however, this non-mineralized bone does provide substantial mechanical stiffness that could be measured with a sensor. As the spine moves and flexes, it creates a bending moment in the spinal rod, which could be measured as a strain. When initially implanted, this rod would experience its peak strain, but this would decrease as the bone shared some of the load. By periodically sampling the strain with a sensor, a curve could be generated that showed the overall progress of the fusion. To maximize the output signal, an interdigitated capacitor design was implemented as the most effective way to maximize the capacitance measurement. A design using 51 free-standing, interdigitated fingers resulted in 50 parallel plate capacitors. The interdigitated capacitor was connected to a Low-Z Amplifier circuit and attached to a spinal rod. The rod was then flexed to simulate spinal bending, and the capacitance changed as expected under physiological loads.

My review of book featured on Inigo

Inigo Online

The Walls Are Closing In “Castle has crafted an eerily believable future for America that is reminiscent of George Orwell’s 1984. From the giant wall insulating America from the rest of the world, to the propaganda on mandatory, controlled television, to the cameras monitoring the protagonist’s every movement, I was chilled. This is a fascinating read about how 75 years from now, everything could be totally different in our world.” – Deborah Munro, Author of Apex

Sensors: Conducting MEMS Research and Fabrication in Open-Use Facilities

BONEZONE

We’re all trying to provide our customers with more feedback and diagnostic information to continuously improve patient outcomes. One way we can add that functionality and capability to our products is by adding microscopically small sensors or Microelectro mechanical Systems (MEMS) that can be fabricated using silicon wafer etching technology to our devices. Previously, I've discussed the advantages of incorporating MEMS into your medical devices.This article will go into more specifics about how to work with an open-use National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure (NNCI) facility in order to microfabricate sensors. I’ll provide details on the various facilities and step-by-step instructions on how to set up a use agreement.

ORS Orthopaedic Research Society

Affiliate Member, Women's Leadership Forum Member

ORS Orthopaedic Research Society

Affiliate Member, Women's Leadership Forum Member

ORS Orthopaedic Research Society

Affiliate Member, Women's Leadership Forum Member

American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Former Section Chair, Sacramento Sierra Nevada Section

ORS Orthopaedic Research Society

Affiliate Member, Women's Leadership Forum Member

American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Former Section Chair, Sacramento Sierra Nevada Section

ORS Orthopaedic Research Society

Affiliate Member, Women's Leadership Forum Member

American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Former Section Chair, Sacramento Sierra Nevada Section

ORS Orthopaedic Research Society

Affiliate Member, Women's Leadership Forum Member

American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Former Section Chair, Sacramento Sierra Nevada Section

Biomedical Engineering Society

Former Faculty Advisor at UP

urn:li:fs_position:(ACoAAAFS8UcBBxCoiV4MAUrpXGxfLc5VAs5HV1g,49360441)

ORS Orthopaedic Research Society

Affiliate Member, Women's Leadership Forum Member

American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Former Section Chair, Sacramento Sierra Nevada Section

Biomedical Engineering Society

Former Faculty Advisor at UP

urn:li:fs_position:(ACoAAAFS8UcBBxCoiV4MAUrpXGxfLc5VAs5HV1g,49360441)

ORS Orthopaedic Research Society

Affiliate Member, Women's Leadership Forum Member

American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Former Section Chair, Sacramento Sierra Nevada Section

Biomedical Engineering Society

Former Faculty Advisor at UP

urn:li:fs_position:(ACoAAAFS8UcBBxCoiV4MAUrpXGxfLc5VAs5HV1g,49360441)

ORS Orthopaedic Research Society

Affiliate Member, Women's Leadership Forum Member

American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Former Section Chair, Sacramento Sierra Nevada Section

Biomedical Engineering Society

Former Faculty Advisor at UP

urn:li:fs_position:(ACoAAAFS8UcBBxCoiV4MAUrpXGxfLc5VAs5HV1g,49360441)

ORS Orthopaedic Research Society

Affiliate Member, Women's Leadership Forum Member

American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Former Section Chair, Sacramento Sierra Nevada Section

Biomedical Engineering Society

Former Faculty Advisor at UP

urn:li:fs_position:(ACoAAAFS8UcBBxCoiV4MAUrpXGxfLc5VAs5HV1g,49360441)

ORS Orthopaedic Research Society

Affiliate Member, Women's Leadership Forum Member

American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Former Section Chair, Sacramento Sierra Nevada Section

Biomedical Engineering Society

Former Faculty Advisor at UP

urn:li:fs_position:(ACoAAAFS8UcBBxCoiV4MAUrpXGxfLc5VAs5HV1g,49360441)

ORS Orthopaedic Research Society

Affiliate Member, Women's Leadership Forum Member

American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Former Section Chair, Sacramento Sierra Nevada Section

Biomedical Engineering Society

Former Faculty Advisor at UP

urn:li:fs_position:(ACoAAAFS8UcBBxCoiV4MAUrpXGxfLc5VAs5HV1g,49360441)

ORS Orthopaedic Research Society

Affiliate Member, Women's Leadership Forum Member

American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Former Section Chair, Sacramento Sierra Nevada Section

Biomedical Engineering Society

Former Faculty Advisor at UP

urn:li:fs_position:(ACoAAAFS8UcBBxCoiV4MAUrpXGxfLc5VAs5HV1g,49360441)

ORS Orthopaedic Research Society

Affiliate Member, Women's Leadership Forum Member

American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Former Section Chair, Sacramento Sierra Nevada Section

Biomedical Engineering Society

Former Faculty Advisor at UP

urn:li:fs_position:(ACoAAAFS8UcBBxCoiV4MAUrpXGxfLc5VAs5HV1g,49360441)

ORS Orthopaedic Research Society

Affiliate Member, Women's Leadership Forum Member

American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Former Section Chair, Sacramento Sierra Nevada Section

Biomedical Engineering Society

Former Faculty Advisor at UP

urn:li:fs_position:(ACoAAAFS8UcBBxCoiV4MAUrpXGxfLc5VAs5HV1g,49360441)

ORS Orthopaedic Research Society

Affiliate Member, Women's Leadership Forum Member

American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Former Section Chair, Sacramento Sierra Nevada Section

Biomedical Engineering Society

Former Faculty Advisor at UP

urn:li:fs_position:(ACoAAAFS8UcBBxCoiV4MAUrpXGxfLc5VAs5HV1g,49360441)

ORS Orthopaedic Research Society

Affiliate Member, Women's Leadership Forum Member

American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Former Section Chair, Sacramento Sierra Nevada Section

Biomedical Engineering Society

Former Faculty Advisor at UP

urn:li:fs_position:(ACoAAAFS8UcBBxCoiV4MAUrpXGxfLc5VAs5HV1g,49360441)

ORS Orthopaedic Research Society

Affiliate Member, Women's Leadership Forum Member

American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Former Section Chair, Sacramento Sierra Nevada Section

Biomedical Engineering Society

Former Faculty Advisor at UP

urn:li:fs_position:(ACoAAAFS8UcBBxCoiV4MAUrpXGxfLc5VAs5HV1g,49360441)

ORS Orthopaedic Research Society

Affiliate Member, Women's Leadership Forum Member

American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Former Section Chair, Sacramento Sierra Nevada Section

Biomedical Engineering Society

Former Faculty Advisor at UP

urn:li:fs_position:(ACoAAAFS8UcBBxCoiV4MAUrpXGxfLc5VAs5HV1g,49360441)

ORS Orthopaedic Research Society

Affiliate Member, Women's Leadership Forum Member

American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Former Section Chair, Sacramento Sierra Nevada Section

Biomedical Engineering Society

Former Faculty Advisor at UP

urn:li:fs_position:(ACoAAAFS8UcBBxCoiV4MAUrpXGxfLc5VAs5HV1g,49360441)

ORS Orthopaedic Research Society

Affiliate Member, Women's Leadership Forum Member

American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Former Section Chair, Sacramento Sierra Nevada Section

Biomedical Engineering Society

Former Faculty Advisor at UP

urn:li:fs_position:(ACoAAAFS8UcBBxCoiV4MAUrpXGxfLc5VAs5HV1g,49360441)